The Mistake in Maligning Minerals

Yet again so called 'experts' have claimed that selenium is risky for your health and even more it won't help you prevent cancer.

Dr. E. J. Crary states, "Selenium is the most potent broad-spectrum anticarcinogenic agent that has yet been discovered." SOURCE

What is Selenium?

Selenium is a mineral. It is taken into the body in water and foods. People use it medicinally. Usually 200 - 400 mcg is taken daily.

Most of the selenium in the body comes from the diet. The amount of selenium in food depends on where it is grown or raised. Crab, liver, fish, poultry, and wheat are generally good selenium sources. The amount of selenium in soils varies a lot around the world, which means that the foods grown in these soils also have differing selenium levels. In the U.S., the Eastern Coastal Plain and the Pacific Northwest have the lowest selenium levels. People in these regions naturally take in about 60 to 90 mcg of selenium per day from their diet. Although this amount of selenium is adequate, it is below the average daily intake in the U.S., which is 125 mcg.

Selenium is used for diseases of the heart and blood vessels, including stroke and “hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis). It is also used for preventing various cancers including cancer of the prostate, stomach, lung, and skin.

Some people use selenium for under-active thyroid, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an eye disease called macular degeneration, hay fever, infertility, cataracts, gray hair, abnormal pap smears, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), mood disorders, arsenic poisoning, and preventing miscarriage.

Selenium is also used for preventing serious complications and death from critical illnesses such as head injury and burns. It is also used for preventing bird flu, treating HIV/AIDS, and reducing side effects from cancer chemotherapy.

Selenium is an important nutrient for the proper function of iodine and therefore, your thyroid.  A healthy thyroid gland is very important to your immune system status.

But as reported in the BBC News todayt,

Taking a daily supplement of selenium will not ward off cancer, say experts who have reviewed the available evidence.

The Cochrane group looked at 55 studies that included over a million people.
Despite anecdotal reports of selenium's cancer powers, the investigators found no proof of a protective effect against skin cancer or prostate cancer. SOURCE: Selenium 'does not prevent cancer'

I'm sure they haven't reviewed all the literature that is favorable to using selenium.

**Selenium is an antioxidant that protects vitamin E from degradation. It helps to build the immune system by destroying free radicals, and aid in the production of antibodies. Selenium is absorbed through the intestines and stored in the liver, kidneys, and muscles. The lower the selenium intake the higher the incidents of cancer. Selenium fortifies heart energy cells, making sure they get enough oxygen. Selenium helps eliminate arsenic. Helpful in stroke prevention. Helps protect against the effects from arsenic, cadmium and mercury. Component of glutathione peroxidase, protecting tissues from the effects of polyunsaturated fatty acid oxidation.

Find selenium in 

**Barley, beer, blackstrap molasses, bran, Brazil nuts, brewer's yeast, broccoli, brown rice, buchu leaves, butter, cabbage, catnip, celery, cereals, chicken, cider vinegar, cinnamon, clams, crab, cucumbers, dairy products, dog grass, eggs, garlic, grains, green leafy vegetables, hibiscus, ho shou wu root, kidneys, lamb, liver, lobster, meats, milk, milk thistle seeds, molasses, mushrooms, nutmeg, nuts, oats, onions, seafood, swiss chard, tuna, turnips, wheat bran, wheat germ, whole grains. Supplements: selenium ascorbate, selenium amino acid chelate.

Selections from more than 30 in Natural Health News

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2008/04/properly-analyzing-data.html

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2008/11/politics-hivaids-and-gmo-drugs.html

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/valuable-supplement.html

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2009/02/cancer-responds-to-love-and-natural.html

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2009/12/help-prevent-colon-cancer-hope-for.html

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2009/06/purposeful-confusion.html

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2010/07/asparagus-olde-cancer-fighting-remedy.html

**Resources: ORTHOMOLECULAR MEDICINE NEWS SERVICE